Controversy as Rovers are held by Marlow

The hosts got off to a flying start pressing high and had Barton on the back foot early on, as they took the lead on four minutes through Lee Barney’s close range finish.

Rovers levelled on 26 minutes though from Kevin Kilroy’s 25-yard free kick, his second in as many games.

Chances were being created by both side, but Marlow retook the lead before half time when Barney notched his second of the night, with another poachers finish.

In the second period, Barton brought on Connor Vincent and Javani Brown for Ben Sawyer and Louis Lee, but they were denied a leveller in controversial fashion.

With 73 minutes gone, leading scorer Keshi Anderson’s appeared to cross the goal-line, but neither referee of assistant agreed, so the goal wasn’t awarded.

Anderson was then denied again as he went clean through only to see his shot saved by the keeper.

Barton did equalise with 15 minutes remaining as Vincent’s powerful shot took a slight deflection and went in off the underside of the bar.

The final period saw Rovers bring on Mahmut Caglar and he fired inches wide, while Barton were denied what they felt was a clear-cut penalty for handball, as the spoils were shared.

Paul Andrews was named star man, while the Sharpenhoe Road club entertain St Ives this weekend.